The Reader: Chat with Corner Creperie

In case you missed last week's Reader article on NoDo's newest lunch addition (written by me), check it out HERE. 

Cheese bacon apple crepe,
side salad with quark buttermilk dressing. ($7)
Much fancier than the Lean Cuisine
you're planning on microwaving in your office. 

Originally published in The Reader, January 23, 2013:

Chat with Corner Creperie

Get your crepes at the corner of 24th and Chicago

BY RACHEL GRACE

There are a few places in town to order crepes, but none as dedicated to the French-style stuffed pancake as this brand new space near the Creighton campus. Over my caramel latte – crafted with house-made syrup and beans from Omaha roasters A Hill of Beans – I spoke with Head Chef Chase Grove and owners Didi and Derek Olsen for the scoop.

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Corner Creperie is located at 343 N. 24^th Street at Chicago Street. Hours are Mon – Sat 10a.m – 10p.m. and Sun 8a.m. – 6p.m. Call 402.955.9577 for details. 

Jim & Jennie's Greek Village

3026 North 90th Street (just north of Maple Street)

402.571.2857

Mon - Thurs 11-9, Fri and Sat 11-10, closed Sun

jimandjennies.com

On this overcast day, the silly Flintstones-esque lettering drew me in. 

I've had a tough time finding a blind-mowing dining experience lately. That is, until hunger struck in the middle of an afternoon "thrifting" (not the cool kind, the poor kind), and I found myself transported to the shores of Greece. Not really. But still, before I knew what was happening, I was deeply submerged in my blue vinyl booth, happily chowing down on some of the best darn spinach pie I've tasted since I worked at a Greek diner in Philly. The phyllo dough was nicely flaky, but just chewy enough to keep the whole thing held together. Darkly caramelized onions added flavor and texture, and it wasn't weighed down with too much feta cheese -- just the way I like it. Finally, something to salivate over.

Spanakopita appetizer ($3.25):
I may or may not have this as my iPhone wallpaper. 

Dolmades appetizer ($4.99):
Ground beef and rice-stuffed grape leaves with creamy egg lemon sauce.

I exercised my timidness and ordered the sandwich special of the day, the gyro. The octopodi and pan-fried smelts will just have to wait 'til next time. Like the souvlaki sandwich, the gyro rested atop a piece of warm, delightfully pliable pita bread. This wasn't the puffy fake stuff you might find in the Baker's bread aisle. The gal I believe to be Mrs. Jennie herself, as she gracefully boxed up our scraps table-side, explained they get their bread from "a place in Chicago." Not bad, says I.

Gyro, complete with tzatziki sauce rich with dill, and house salad ($6.75 on Mondays).

The menu is more than fit for pescetarians, and even your vegetarian friend can tag along and get a Veggie Gyro. Winos will feel adventurous sipping on the full-bodied Kourtaki Retsina ($4.75/glass), which had a tangy, unfamiliar piney taste.

Jim and Jennie have been doing their thing since '85, and I hope they know how good they are at serving wonderfully rustic, traditional Greek cuisine. Even the way they dressed the wedge of iceberg in oil, vinegar, and a handful of dried oregano was somehow impressive. Rookies they are not; they've got the touch.

Souvlaki sandwich ($5.99):
Well-seasoned, marinated pork loin skewer grilled to a tender medium,
with pepper, onion, a chunk o' feta, a sad tomato slice,
a ramekin of velvety tzatziki and your customary kalamata olive.

Chinese Place in the Old Market

UPDATE: IT'S GONE! CLOSED!

1215 Howard Street
402.991.9330
Mon - Thurs 11-9:30, Fri and Sat 11-10, closed Sun
houseofleeomaha.com

Ye Old Howard Street

Is this place called "House of Lee," or "California Bowl," or both? The website says the Old Market location is closed, so maybe my experience a few weeks ago was all a dream. A dream in which I patronize a dingy Chinese food diner and emerge feeling... satisfied.

I've passed this place a bunch of times and was sure it would absolutely, positively suck. There's nothing more I can really say. Thought it was gonna suck, and it was actually pretty good. Next.

Moo Goo Gai Pan ($6.25)

Lunch Special ($6.75):
Mongolian Beef and Chicken with Broccoli

Egg Drop Soup (included with lunch)

If you haven't seen this TED talk on the origin of Americanized Chinese cuisine, there are worse ways you could spend 15 minutes:

Happy New Year (Don't Look Back)

Strip malls rule:
Caribbean Delight on N. 72nd Street

Everything I ate in 2012 has been long digested (hopefully), so I find it a bit trivial to divvy out my own little "Best of" awards. Rather, I'd like to look forward, to share with you my ever-evolving plans for good -- and not so good -- eats.

Here's where you're likely to find me this year:

For tacos: Tie between La Casita and Tacos el Peligro. Both mainstays on my roster since I moved here, these are also good if you made a New Year's resolution to order more food in Spanish.

For an alternative to Panera Bread and the like: Le Quartier. Though I've only been to the new Dundee location, this Lincoln-based mini-chain serves up an exquisite soup and sandwich combo, in a pleasant-yet-simple setting both me and my laptop can enjoy.

The spread at Jim & Jennie's

For great winter comfort food, before we're all sweating our balls off again: Jim & Jennie's Greek Village at 90th and Maple really impressed me with their interesting Greek wine, superior souvlaki and spanakopita, and Ionic column decor, all in some strip mall. Hit it up between a trip to Dollar Tree and donating some plasma.

Nachos from Barrett's Barleycorn -- don't they look tasty?

Restaurant I will eat at and then marvel at how I made the same mistake yet again, just 'cause it's close and easy: Tie between Varsity Sports Cafe in Dundee and Barrett's. Those of you who stalk me might be able to pinpoint a little closer where I live now.

Restaurant I won't be frequenting, even though it has a great cocktail and food menu: J. Coco. Sometime since its early-2012 opening, this place was overtaken by middle-aged and elderly women. I'm not quite there yet.

Place I will always want to go but will usually forget about and go to Taco Bell instead: Localmotive Food Truck. Because unfortunately, it's too hard to find someone to drive to the Old Market when you're wasted.

For an alternative to any one of Omaha's many dirty dive bars: Pageturner's Lounge. I guess rock stars have seen the inside of enough bars to know how to open a cool one.

Place I wish would re-open in 2013: Bomb Digs Food Truck. After a short stint capturing our hearts, these guys went on hiatus. When and if they'll return is anyone's guess.

Place I will try once more to see if it's gotten any better, because I really like what they're trying to do: Lighthouse Pizza. My first visit resulted in an über-snarky post, but I'm hoping they've improved. For the love of pizza.

Things you should do in 2013:

• Try many new places in dreary-looking strip malls in the far reaches of our town. They tend to have the most character and best undiscovered food.

• Have lots of grill outs with friends.

• Stop reading this and go do something cool. Let's be better role models for all those iPhone-toting ten-year-olds out there.

• That said -- a'hem -- keep your eyes peeled for Google's Field Trip app, even if your eyesight is rapidly diminishing like mine is from staring at your smartphone. Let's just say it's a pretty cool app.

Some touristy joint in Algodones, Mexico 

I finished out my year with Margaritas under blue skies in a Mexican border town, but it couldn't charm me away from Omaha's deliciously treacherous, icy streets. I can't leave yet; my list of "Places to try" is still a mile long.